Panel having embedded fastener securing means



Nov. 8, 1966 J. A. GEORGE 3,

PANEL HAVING EMBEDDED FASTENER SECURING MEANS Filed Sept. 30, 1963 3INVENTOR.

JAMES A. GEORGE ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,284,116 PatentedNov. 8, 1966 3,284,116 PANEL HAV IN G EMBEDDED FASTENER SECURING MEANSJames A. George, 145 Woodland Ave, Campbell, Ohio Filed Sept. 30, 1963,Ser. N0. 312,468 2 Claims. (Cl. 287-2032) This invention relates to afastening device applicable to sheets of plywood and similar panels andmore particularly to a fastener which permits joining such sheets ofplywood and the like to metal objects such as frames or supports.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a simple andeconomical fastener for plywood panels and the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fastener forplywood panels and the like which engages the panel transversely thereofthroughout the width of the same.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fastenerfor a plywood panel or the like which is completely hidden with respectto the upper or finish surface of the plywood panel or the like.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fastenerfor a plywood panel or the like which provides a continuous metal memberembedded in the plywood panel or the like in which a metal screw may beengaged.

The fastener disclosed herein is particularly suitable for furniture andcabinet making wherein metal pieces are frequently supplied with plywoodor flakeboa-rd tops and the same covered with desirable surfacingmaterial, such as molded plastic sheets, etc. Such tops are commonlyused on desks, tables, cabinets and other items of furniture whichfrequently use a metal frame and a serious problem has heretoforeexisted in the inability of the fasteners heretofore known in the art toadequately secure the plywood or flakeboard panel to the metal frame.For example, a so-called metal ofiice desk comprises a pair ofpedestals, each of which contains drawers and an interconnecting metalsection, all of which are attached to a top which very frequentlycomprises a sheet of plywood or flakeboard with a section of vinylplastic material and having its edges finished with an aluminum moldingwhich is usually provided with a plastic insert. In the past, such topswere simply afiixed to the metal pedestals of the desk with wood screwsand inasmuch as the plywood is relatively thin, usually no more than /2in thickness, the degree of attachment provided by the wood screws wasgenerally insuflicient with the resultant loosening of the desk toprelative to the pedestals. The same difliculty occurs when plywood orflakeboard tops are used on sink counters and cabinets adjacent theretoand attached to the supporting cabinet-s by wood screws.

The invention disclosed herein enables such desk tops, sink tops,counter tops and the like to be securely fastened to the supportingstructure whether it is metal or wood.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes andmodifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposesof the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spiritand scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a section of plywood panel showing asection of angle iron fastened to the under side thereof.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross section on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a modified form of thefastener.

By referring to the drawings and FIGURE 1 in particular, it will be seenthat a section of plywood is indicated by the numeral 10 and has an end11 and a side edge 12 and a bottom 13, the section of plywood 10 maycomprise a counter top, desk top or cabinet top or the like or it maycomprise a panel which may be positioned horizontally or vertically in abuilding-construction. In the example shown, it is positionedhorizontally and the perspective view illustrates a portion of thebottom 13 thereof to which a section of angle iron 14 is attached. Theangle iron 14 includes a horizontal flange 15' which is apertured atspaced intervals therealong and through which metal screws 16, 16 arepositioned. The vertical flange of the angle iron 14 may be secured toor be a part of a supporting cabinet or the like. The section of plywoodlll has been provided with a transversely extending opening 17 whichopening 17 is spaced with respect to the upper surface of the plywoodpanel 10 and also with respect to the bottom surface 13 and extendsinwardly from the side edge 12 completely through the section of plywood10 to the other side edge thereof, or, alternately, a sufiicientdistance.

A tubular metal member 18, the outer diameter of which is slightlysmaller than the inner diameter of the opening 17 in the plywood panel10, is inserted in the opening 17 so as to extend completely through theplywood from one edge to the other. The opening 17 and the tubular metalmember 18 are in vertical alignment with the metal screws 16 heretoforereferred to so that when they are turned inwardly they will first engagethe portion of the plywood panel 10 which defines the opening 17 andthen they will engage and pierce and become secured to the tubular metalmember 18.

By referring now to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, an enlarged cross sectionon line 22 of FIGURE 1 may be seen, and it will be observed that themetal screw 16 has pierced and penetrated the tubular metal member 18 sothat the threads of the metal screw tightly engage the opening which waspunched in the tubular metal member 18 when the screw was inserted.

It will thus be seen that no matter how many metal screws are driventhey will engage the tubular metal member and be securely fastenedthereto and thus securely attach the angle iron 14 or whatever otherdevice is to be secured to the plywood.

By referring now to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, a modification of theinvention may be seen and in which figure a section of plywood 19 is.shown in which a transverse opening 20 has been formed and in which amodified tubular metal fastener 21 has been positioned. The modificationcomprises splitting the metal top longitudinally and turning the ends ofthe split sections upon themselves as indicated by the numerals 22 and23. When the tubular fastener 21 is installed in the opening 20 the slitis disposed at the bottom of the opening 20 so that the metal screws 24upon being inserted therein will engage double thicknesses of the metalfastener 21 as illustrated and thereby be more securely held. The metalscrew 24 may obviously be used to attach any object, such as the angleiron 25 illustrated.

It will thus be seen that simple, inexpensive and highly efficient metalfastening device has been disclosed which when inserted in an openingdrilled edge-wise in a plywood panel or the like acts to receive a metalscrew and thereby clampingly secure the plywood panel or the like towhatever device is desired.

3 i It will occur to those skilled in the art that the fastenerdisclosed herein as being cross sectionally circular and comprising atubular member may alternately comprise a metal member of any desiredcross sectional configuration, and having thus described by invention,what I claim is:

1. In combination with a plywood panel a device for attaching saidplywood panel or the like to a structure, said plywood panel having anopening extending therethrough parallel with a surface of said panel,said device comprising a section of longitudinally split tubularmaterial with inturned longitudinal edges positioned in said opening insaid plywood panel and arranged to receive screws positioned in thesurface of said plywood panel so as to engage said opening and penetratesaid tubular fas- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS947,602 1/1910 Stahl et al 858.8 1,734,340 11/1929 Overton 151-41.72,191,613 2/1940 Ericsson 15141.7

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. A. STENZEL, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PLYWOOD PANEL A DEVICE FOR ATTACHING SAIDPLYWOOD OR THE LIKE TO A STRUCTURE, SAID PLYWOOD PANEL HAVING AN OPENINGEXTENDING THERETHROUGH PARALLEL WITH A SURFACE OF SAID PANEL, SAIDDEVICE COMPRISING A SECTION OF LONGITUDINALLY SPLIT TUBULAR MATERIALWITH INTURNED LONGITUDINALLY EDGES POSITIONED IN SAID OPENING IN SAIDPLYWOOD PANEL AND ARRANGED TO RECEIVE SCREWS POSITIONED IN THE SURFACEOF SAID PLYWOOD PANEL SO AS TO ENGAGE SAID OPENING AND PENETRATE SAIDTUBULAR FASTENER BETWEEN SAID LONGITUDINAL EDGES AND BE SECURED THERETO.